Are Goat Milk and Cheese Dairy? What about Sheep Milk Products?

Updated in 2023! Is goat milk dairy, or does dairy only include cow milk products? What about sheep milk? Over the years, we’ve received these questions from hundreds of readers. As they embark on a dairy-free diet, people want to know, “are they ok to eat or not?” Both goat milk and sheep milk products are considered dairy, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t safe for some people.

Goat Milk, Sheep Milk, and the Dairy-Free Diet

In general, all mammal milks (sheep, goat, camel, etc) and their related products (cheese, yogurt, sour cream, etc) are classified as dairy. In fact, if you look up goat milk and sheep milk online, you will probably come across the American Dairy Goat Association and the The Dairy Sheep Association of North America. Since they are dairy, these types of mammal milks are also avoided on a strict dairy-free diet. But there are caveats for some people with milk issues.

Are Goat Milk and Sheep Milk Okay for Milk Allergies?

People who have a food allergy react to protein in the allergenic food. With milk allergies, they are most often reacting to the casein or whey proteins in milk. These types of proteins are found in all mammal milks, but they have slightly different compositions across different species. This means it is possible to be allergic to cow milk but not goat milk, or vice versa.

However, cross-reactivity is very common between cow milk allergies and goat milk. Researchers estimate that over 90% of milk allergic patients are also allergic to goat milk, including infants. Sheep milk has also shown a high rate of cross reactivity with cow milk allergies.

People who are interested in assessing goat milk and sheep milk allergies can speak with their doctor about testing options. There are skin prick and blood tests available for various types of mammal milk, though some doctors might opt to administer a supervised food challenge.

Are Goat Milk and Sheep Milk Okay for Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose is a simple sugar, so unlike milk proteins, it’s identical across species. This means people who have lactose intolerance will get symptoms from lactose consumption, regardless of the source. What really matters is how much lactose is consumed.

Lactose intolerance symptoms occur when your body doesn’t have enough lactase enzymes to properly digest all of the lactose you’ve consumed. This is why some people with lactose intolerance are able to tolerate low lactose foods, like hard cheeses, but get symptoms with high lactose foods, like milk or cream. Their bodies produce enough lactase to properly digest the low lactose quantity, but battle the excess lactose in the higher lactose foods.

Goat milk and sheep milk are lower in lactose than cow milk, but not by much. They are both still considered high lactose foods. So some people might notice slightly more tolerance to other mammal milks, but the relief is minimal. Better options for low lactose milk products include lactose-free dairy, butter, and hard cheeses from any of these mammals. But speak with a physician to discuss the best options for your diet.

Are Goat Milk and Sheep Milk Okay for Dairy / Milk / Casein Intolerance?

“Dairy intolerance“ is truly a medical grey area. By definition, if someone is having an immune response to a protein in a food, it’s a food allergy. But if they just lack the ability to properly digest a food, it’s an intolerance. Outside of a specific type of food allergies (IgE-mediated) and lactose intolerance, testing is limited. The terms dairy intolerance or milk intolerance are often used when the available milk allergy and lactose intolerance tests come up negative.

Some people with a milk protein “intolerance” might be able to tolerate goat milk or sheep milk since the proteins in these mammals are slightly different from cow milk proteins. If you have a “milk intolerance” and are interested in alternate mammal milks, it’s important to discuss this topic with your physician. They can work with you on an elimination diet or food challenge if they think it is safe for your condition.

What About Other Dairy-Free Diets?

• Vegan and Plant-Based – Goat and sheep milks are from animals. So they are not consumed by those who follow a vegan or strictly plant-based diet.
• Kosher – Jewish dietary law forbids mixing milk and meat. This includes the milk of any domesticated animal, like goats or sheep.
• Galactosemia – As mentioned above, the lactose in goat milk and sheep milk is the same as the lactose in cow milk. People who have galactosemia must avoid all lactose.
• Other Health Issues – If you follow a dairy-free diet for other health reasons or disease prevention, you’ll need to assess goat and sheep milk specifically. Discuss them with your doctor to decide if they are suitable for your needs.

This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Speak with your physician before making any change in diet. Allergy and intolerance testing should be done under medical supervision.

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